Mobile to Hardware Device Linking

ABSTRACT

Allowing a user of a mobile computing device to link the mobile computing device and its associated network or system to a subject piece of hardware operating via a second network or system is provided. After the mobile computing device is linked to a given hardware device, functional operation of the hardware device and access to accounts associated with the hardware device may be provided to the linked mobile computing device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/426,163 filed Dec. 22, 2010, the disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Communications between mobile computing devices, their designatedwireless networks, and other computerized networks through the Internethas become commonplace through the use of mobile computing devices suchas smart-phones, personal digital assistants, lap-top computers, and thelike. In many cases, these mobile computing devices may gain access andcontrol over a user's various accounts, both business and personal, byprovisioning communications between two or more networks, wireless orotherwise. In these cases, a user may exercise specific control over agiven account such as changing account settings, adjusting servicelevels, and/or modifying the user's personal information, and so on.

In today's electronic and mobile environment, it is common for a user ofa mobile computing device to link one network to another network or to ahardware device through a defined protocol established by the mobilecomputing device network provider and any other network involved.However, often such a protocol may not be as user-friendly as desired bythe user. For example, one protocol to link networks and/or hardwaredevices may require accessing an account through a website via anInternet connection, entering a number or code provided by a hardwaredevice or second network, all while communicating over a third partynetwork. Another scenario may require a user to call technical supportand request permission to establish communications between networksand/or hardware, or to obtain permission to control a device. As can beappreciated by those skilled in the art, linking mobile computingdevices and their respective networks to other networks or to hardwaredevices in a simplified manner may provide useful benefits for the user.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the presentinvention has been made.

SUMMARY

The above and other problems are solved by allowing a user of a mobilecomputing device to link the mobile computing device and its associatednetwork or system to a second network or system for permitting themobile computing device to have functional operation within the secondnetwork or system.

According to one embodiment, a mobile computing device, for example, awireless telephone operating over its designated wireless network may belinked to a piece of hardware operating via a second network or system.Once the mobile computing device is linked to the subject piece ofhardware, operational control over the subject piece of hardware may beexercised from the mobile computing device. For example, a wirelesstelephone may be linked to a cable television services system set-topbox to allow operational control of the set-top box (e.g., settingviewing channels, controlling recording devices, etc.) from the linkedwireless telephone. In addition to operational control over the subjectpiece of hardware, the mobile computing device may be used to access andedit if desired account information associated with the subject piece ofhardware.

The mobile computing device may be linked to the subject piece ofhardware and its associated network or operating system by registeringthe mobile computing device with the associated network or operatingsystem to allow the mobile computing device to obtain operationalcontrol over the subject piece of hardware. The mobile computing devicemay obtain identification information from the subject piece of hardwarethat may be passed to the network or operating system associated withthe subject piece of hardware and that may be used to associate themobile computing device with the subject piece of hardware. According toembodiments, identification information may be obtained by communicationbetween the mobile computing device and the subject piece of hardwareaccording to a variety of means. According to one aspect, a bar codelabel affixed to or associated with the subject piece of hardware may bephotographically captured by the mobile computing device andidentification information encoded on the bar code label may be used toregister the mobile computing device with the network or operatingsystem associated with the subject piece of hardware. According toanother aspect, the subject piece of hardware may transmitidentification information to the mobile computing device via infraredcommunication, Bluetooth communication, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)communication, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, andthe like.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and description below. Other features and advantages will beapparent from a reading of the following detailed description and areview of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that thefollowing detailed description is explanatory only and is notrestrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example operatingenvironment for embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is simplified block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication network and a cable television/services (CATV) systemarchitecture that serves as one example operating environment for thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a mobile computingdevice with which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are simplified block diagrams illustrating examplescreenshots on a mobile computing device utilizing embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B are flow diagrams showing an illustrative routine linking amobile computing device to a hardware device via multiple networks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention aredirected to allowing a user of a mobile computing device to link themobile computing device and its associated network or system to asubject piece of hardware operating via a second network or system forpermitting the mobile computing device to have functional operationwithin the second network or system with respect to the subject piece ofhardware. For example, a wireless telephone may be linked to a cabletelevision services system set-top box to allow operational control ofthe set-top box (e.g., setting viewing channels, controlling recordingdevices, etc.) from the linked wireless telephone. In addition tooperational control over the subject piece of hardware, the mobilecomputing device may be used to access and edit, if desired, accountinformation associated with the subject piece of hardware.

According to embodiments, the term “mobile computing device” will beused herein to describe a mobile wireless electronic communicationdevice, such as a wireless telephone, handheld computer, personaldigital assistant (PDA), laptop computer, and the like capable ofsending and receiving electronic communications. A second network orsystem with which a mobile computing device may register via a subjectpiece of hardware associated with the second network or system mayinclude, but not be limited to, cable television services (CATV)providers, Satellite TV (SATV) services providers, ISP's (InternetService Providers), and the like. A subject piece of hardware over whicha mobile computing device may exercise control according to embodimentsmay include, but not be limited to, a CATV or SATV set-top box, DVR(Digital Video Recorder), modem, router, wireline or wireless telephonedevice or system, a server computer, etc. That is, any piece of hardwarethat is operated via a network or system may be accessed and controlledvia a mobile computing device that is properly registered with thenetwork or system within which the piece of hardware operates.

FIG. 1A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example operatingenvironment for embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG.1A, as described above, a mobile computing device 110, for example, awireless telephone, may be associated with a given hardware device, forexample, a CATV set-top box, and the mobile computing device may beregistered with a network or system 117 in which the hardware deviceoperates, for example, a CATV system, to allow the mobile computingdevice to operationally interact with the hardware device, such asallowing the mobile computing device to be used to change settings ofthe example set-top box or access account information for the exampleset-top box.

In order to register the mobile computing device with the network orsystem associated with the hardware device, the mobile computing device110 may be used to capture identification information 105 for thehardware device that may be passed to the network or system 117 forassociating the mobile computing device with the subject hardware device112. Identification information for the hardware device captured by themobile computing device may include a media access control (MAC)address, a serial number, a model number, a date of manufacture, date ofinstallation, and any other information associated with the hardwaredevice that may be used to positively identify the hardware device tothe network or system 112 through which it operates.

The identification information for the hardware device may be capturedusing the mobile computing device according to a number of availablemethods. According to one embodiment, a bar code label affixed to orassociated with the subject piece of hardware 112 may bephotographically captured by the mobile computing device andidentification information encoded on the bar code label may be used toregister the mobile computing device with the network or operatingsystem 117 associated with the subject piece of hardware. Theidentification information 105 may be captured via a mobile computingdevice image capture mechanism 108, for example, an onboard camera 108.According to this embodiment, a user of the mobile computing 110 mayphotograph the bar code 105 affixed to the hardware device 112, and theinformation encoded on the bar code label, may be used to register themobile computing device with the network or system 117, as describedbelow.

According to another embodiment, the subject hardware device 112 maytransmit identification information to the mobile computing device viawireless communication, such as infrared communication, Bluetoothcommunication, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication, Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) communication, and the like. For example, themobile computing device may be used to transmit a request to thehardware device which in turn responds with the requested identificationinformation, or a button or other functionality control associated withthe hardware device may be selected to cause the identificationinformation to be sent to the mobile computing device.

After the identification information for the hardware device is receivedby the mobile computing device according to any of the acceptablemethods described above, the identification information may beelectronically transmitted from a network 115 associated with the mobilecomputing device 110 through a distributed computing network, such asthe Internet 125, to the network or system 117 associated with thesubject hardware device. Following with the example described above, awireless telephone 110 may photographically capture identificationinformation from a bar code affixed to a CATV set-top box, and thecaptured information may be sent to a CATV system under which theset-top box operates to register the wireless telephone with the CATV toallow the wireless telephone to be used to interact with and control theset-top box. For another example, a hardware device 112 may be one ormore DVR's, and the mobile computing device 110 may be locally orremotely provisioned to set a recording schedule, control channelselections, power on and power off the device, and the like. In additionto controlling the functionality of the hardware device 112, a user of amobile computing device 110 may access and control account informationassociated with the hardware device or with an account at the network orsystem 117 associated with the hardware device 112. For example, oncethe mobile computing device 110 is linked to the hardware device 112 andthe network/system 117, the user may order additional services,features, modify billing address information, update user profileinformation, and the like.

According to another embodiment, the mobile computing device 110 may beutilized for authenticating within a home. That is, when the mobilecomputing device is within a specified range of a network (e.g., homenetwork), a synchronization signal may be sent from the hardware device112 (e.g., STB) to the mobile computing device 110 so that the user maybe able to access the hardware device from the mobile computing deviceautomatically. Additionally, the user may be able to utilize featuresthat may be provisioned for the specified network (e.g., home network).

These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized,and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of the present invention. The following detailed description istherefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of thepresent invention is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals referto like elements throughout the several figures, embodiments of thepresent invention and an exemplary operating environment will bedescribed.

As described above, the network/system 117 under which the hardwaredevice 112 operates may be any system under which any hardware deviceoperates that may be associated with a mobile computing device to allowthe mobile computing device to control the hardware device and/or accessinformation associated with the hardware device. For example thenetwork/system 117 may include, but not be limited to, a cabletelevision services (CATV) system, a Satellite TV (SATV) servicessystem, an Internet services system (ISP), and the like. For purposes ofillustration, FIG. 1B is simplified block diagram illustrating awireless communication network 115 and a CATV network/system 117 thatmay serve as one exemplary operating environment for the presentinvention. As should be understood, the example network architecturesillustrated in FIG. 1B are for purposes of example and are not limitingof a variety of communication configurations that may be utilized asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, wireless communications services are providedby various service provider companies through a wireless network 115. Asis known to those skilled in the art, wireless networks may consist ofbut not be limited to cellular towers 195, base stations, and a MobileTelephone Switching Office (MTSO) 120. As is known to those skilled inthe art, a cellular tower 195 typically consists of a steel pole orlattice structure outfitted with antennae for transmitting and receivingsignals to and from mobile computing devices, other cellular towers, andthe MTSO. Each cellular tower 195 may have multiple sets of antennamounted, depending upon how many different service providers use thetower 195. The base of each cellular tower 195 includes sets oftransmitters and receivers from each service provider having antennaemounted to the tower 195. As a unit, the cellular tower 195 and the baseform a system capable of transmitting, receiving, and managing data.This data may consist of, but not be limited to, voice, text, and/orelectronic media. As is understood by those skilled in the art, wirelesssystems typically operate at various frequencies (e.g., across afrequency range from 800 megahertz (MHz) to 1900 MHz), depending uponwhich wireless technology is utilized. According to the embodiments ofthe present invention, mobile computing device 110 to hardware device112 linking may operate across this typical network of wireless systems,and therefore, in the same frequency ranges.

Referring still to FIG. 1B, an MTSO 120 serves as a central controlcenter for the base stations operating in a given wirelesscommunications area. For example, an MTSO 120 may be configured forcontrolling wireless communications for a wireless service provideroperating in a specified city or other suitable operating area orregion. In addition to other operating functions of the MTSO, accordingto embodiments of the present invention, the MTSO 120 may serve ascontrol point for determining, providing and controlling subscriberfeatures. For example, in accordance with embodiments of this invention,a customer information database 170 may contain data to allow adetermination as to whether a particular feature or service isprovisioned for a given wireless communications device account. Anexample of such a feature or service may be Caller ID, Call Waiting,Voicemail, or Data. Thus, if a command is made using a mobile computingdevice 110, a customer information database 170 may be parsed todetermine which features to provision before completing desired command.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the example CATVsystem 190 is in the form of a distributed client-server computingsystem for providing video and data flow across the HFC network 185between server-side service providers (e.g., cable television/serviceproviders) via a server-side (backend) head end 135 and a client-sidecustomer via a client-side set-top box (STB) functionally connected to acustomer receiving device, such as the television set 155. As isunderstood by those skilled in the art, modern CATV systems 190 mayprovide a variety of services across the HFC network 185 includingtraditional digital and analog video programming, telephone services,high speed Internet access, video-on-demand, and information services.

As is known to those skilled in the art, HFC networks 185 combine bothoptical fiber and coaxial cable lines. Typically, optical fiber runsfrom the cable head end 135 to neighborhoods of 500 to 2,000 customers.Coaxial cable runs from the optical fiber feeders to each customer.According to embodiments of the present invention, the functionality ofthe HFC network 185 allows for efficient bidirectional data flow betweenthe client-side set-top box 150 and the server-side application server140 of the present invention.

On the client side of the CATV system 190, digital and analog videoprogramming and digital and analog data are provided to the customertelevision set 155 via the set-top box (STB) 150. Interactive televisionservices that allow a customer to input data to the CATV system 190likewise are provided by the STB 150. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the STB150 is a multipurpose computing device having a computer processor,memory and an input/output mechanism. The input/output mechanism of aSTB 150 receives input from server-side processes via the HFC network185 and from customers via input devices such as the remote controldevice 128 and the keyboard 130. The remote control device 128 and thekeyboard 130 may communicate with the STB 150 via a suitablecommunication transport such as the infrared connection 132. The STB 150also includes a video processor for processing and providing digital andanalog video signaling to the television set 155 via a cablecommunication transport 134. A multi-channel tuner is provided forprocessing video and data to and from the STB 150 and the server-sidehead end system 135, described below.

The STB 150 also includes an operating system 122 for directing thefunctions of the STB 150 in conjunction with a variety of clientapplications 125. For example, if a client application 125 requires anews flash from a third-party news source to be displayed on thetelevision 155, the operating system 122 may cause the graphicsfunctionality and video processor of the STB 150, for example, to outputthe news flash to the television 155 at the direction of the clientapplication 125 responsible for displaying news items.

Because a variety of different operating systems 122 may be utilized bya variety of different brands and types of set-top boxes, a middlewarelayer 124 is provided to allow a given software application to beexecuted by a variety of different operating systems. According to anembodiment of the present invention, the middleware layer 124 mayinclude a set of application programming interfaces (API) that areexposed to client applications 125 and operating systems 122 that allowthe client applications to communicate with the operating systemsthrough common data calls understood via the API set. As describedbelow, a corresponding middleware layer is included on the server sideof the CATV system 190 for facilitating communication between theserver-side application server and the client-side STB 150.

As is understood by those skilled in the art, the “in band” signalingspace may operate across a variety of frequency ranges, for example, ata frequency between 54 and 1000 megahertz. The signaling space isgenerally divided into 6 megahertz channels in which may be transmitteda single analog signal or a greater number (e.g., up to ten) digitalsignals.

Referring still to FIG. 1B, the head end 135 of the CATV system 190 ispositioned on the server side of the CATV system and includes hardwareand software systems responsible for originating and managing contentfor distributing through the HFC network 185 to client-side STBs 150 forpresentation to customers via televisions 155. As described above, anumber of services may be provided by the CATV system 190, includingdigital and analog video programming, interactive television services,telephone services, video-on-demand services, targeted advertising, andprovision of information content.

The application server 140 is a general-purpose computing systemoperative to assemble and manage data sent to and received from theclient-side set-top box 150 via the HFC network 185.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the services provider data services 160include a number of services operated by the services provider of theCATV system 190 which may include data on a given customer. For example,a billing system 162 may include information such as a customer's name,street address, business identification number, Social Security number,credit history, and information regarding services and productssubscribed to by the customer. An electronic mail system 164 may containinformation such as electronic mail addresses, high-speed Internetaccess subscription information and electronic mail usage data. Ahardware linking system 166 may include information such as secure usernames and passwords utilized by customers for access to network servicesand protocols for establishing a link.

The customer information database 168 may include general informationabout customers such as place of employment, business address, businesstelephone number and demographic information such as age, gender,educational level, and the like. The customer information database mayalso include information on products and services subscribed to by acustomer from the cable services provider. For example, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention, the customer informationdatabase may contain data to allow a determination as to whether aparticular product or service is already provisioned at a customerservice address or whether a work order is pending for a particularproduct or service provisioning at the customer service address. Thecustomer information database may also include information that allowsfor a determination as to whether prerequisites for provisioning arequested product of service are met by a requesting customer. Forexample, if a customer requests electronic mail services and high speedInternet access is a prerequisite for electronic mail services, thecustomer information database may be queried to determine whether therequired Internet access is provisioned at the requesting customerlocation or address.

As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the disparate dataservices systems 162, 164, 166, 168 are illustrated as a collection ofdata services for purposes of example only. The example data servicessystems comprising the data services 160 may operate as separate dataservices systems, which communicate with a web services system(described below) along a number of different communication paths andaccording to a number of different communication protocols.

Referring still to FIG. 1B, a web services system 157 is illustratedbetween the application server 140 and the data services 160. Accordingto embodiments of the present invention, the web services system 157serves as a collection point for data requested from each of thedisparate data services systems comprising the data services 160. Whenthe application server 140 requires customer profile data from one ormore of the data services 160 for preparation or update of a customerprofile, the application server 140 passes a data query to the webservices system 157. The web services system formulates a data query toeach of the available data services systems for obtaining any availabledata for a given customer as identified by a set-top box identificationassociated with the customer. The web services system 157 serves as anabstraction layer between the various data services systems and theapplication server 140. That is, the application server 140 is notrequired to communicate with the disparate data services systems, nor isthe application server 140 required to understand the data structures ordata types utilized by the disparate data services systems. The webservices system 157 is operative to communicate with each of thedisparate data services systems for obtaining necessary customer profiledata. The customer profile data obtained by the web services system isassembled and is returned to the application server 140 for ultimateprocessing via the middleware layer 142, as described above.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a mobile computingdevice 110 may access the CATV system 190 via the wireless network 115,illustrated in FIG. 1B in order to access and utilize one or moreapplications, features, or services available to the user via the CATVsystem 190. The mobile computing device 110 may gain access to thedesired applications, features, or services in a variety of suitablemethods. According to one method, the mobile computing device 110 mayaccess the CATV 190 via the IP network 125 to the Web Services System157 and Data Services platform 160.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a diagram of a mobile computing device 110 withwhich embodiments of the present invention may be practiced isillustrated. The mobile computing device 110 may operate via thewireless network 115 described above, or via other connectivitytechnologies, such as via WiFi, and is illustrative of any suitabledevice, such as a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, or handheld computer, operative to send, receive and processwireless communications according to embodiments of the presentinvention. As is understood by those skilled in the art, a mobilecomputing device 110 comprises, but is not limited to, an internalcircuit board, antenna, operating system software, liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), keyboard, microphone, speaker, and a battery. All ofthese components and systems making up a mobile computing device 110work together to send, receive, and manage data within and beyond thecellular network.

A display screen 205 is operative for displaying a variety ofinformation such as information about incoming and outgoingcommunications, as well as, a variety of data and displayable objects,for example, text, alphanumeric data, photographs, and the like.

Data input to the device 110 may be performed via a variety of suitablemeans, such as, touch screen input via the display screen 205, keyboardor keypad input via a data entry area 210, key input via one or moreselectable buttons or controls 215, and voice input via a microphone 220disposed on the device. According to embodiments, additional data inputmeans include photographic input via an image capture mechanism 108(e.g., camera) functionality associated with the mobile computingdevice, and including a transmission receiver for receiving data from ahardware device 112 via infrared communication, Bluetooth communication,Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication, Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) communication, and the like. Data may be output via the device110 via any suitable output means, including but not limited to, displayon the display screen 205, audible output via an associated speaker 220or connected earphone system, vibration module for providing tactileoutput, and the like.

Operational unit 222 is illustrative of internal operating functionalityof the mobile computing device 110. A processor 225 is illustrative of ageneral-purpose computer processor for processing incoming and outgoingdata and communications and controlling operation of the device andassociated software applications via a mobile computing device operatingsystem. Memory 230 may be utilized for storing a device operatingsystem, device programming, one or more stored applications, forexample, mobile telephone applications, data processing applications,calculators, games, Internet browsing applications, navigationapplications, acceleration applications, camera and/or videoapplications, etc. According to embodiments, mobile computing device 110may comprise a linking application 275, which may utilized to capture animage of a hardware device's 112 identification information 105 (e.g.,barcode), and communicate the captured identification information aswell as identification information associated with the mobile computingdevice to provide an association between the mobile computing devicenetwork 115 and the network 117 associated with the hardware device 112.

The mobile computing device 110 may contain an accelerometer 255 fordetecting acceleration, and can be used to sense orientation, vibration,and/or shock. Mobile computing device 110 may contain a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver 260, which when coupled with anavigation application, can pinpoint the device's 110 location, givedirections to a provided destination, and may provide information aboutnearby businesses. A GPS receiver 260 uses radio waves to communicatewith satellites orbiting the Earth. Radio functions 235 include allrequired functionality, including onboard antennae, for allowing thedevice 110 to communicate with other communication devices and systemsvia a wireless network.

Having described elements of a mobile computing device 110 that mayserve as an exemplary device for embodiments of the present invention,FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are illustrations of example applicationscreenshots for linking a mobile computing device 110 to a hardwaredevice 112. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show a touch screen device 110 whereina standard user interface 205 is applied. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, anapplication may prompt a user of the mobile computing device 110 toassociate/link a hardware device 112. As should be appreciated, theprompt illustrated in FIG. 3A may be automatically provided when thedevice 110 is brought into physical proximity to the hardware device 112(for example, as determined by a GPS receiver 260 on board the mobiledevice 110), or the prompt 305 may be provided in response to manualaction by the user of the mobile device 110 by activating the linkingapplication 275 on the mobile computing device 110. It can beappreciated that numerous methods may be employed on the mobilecomputing device 110 to make the selection, such as touching an icon 305on the user interface screen 205, using the key-pad 215, and the like.

After the user of the mobile computing device 110 begins the linkingapplication and chooses to associate a hardware device 112, the hardwareidentification information 105 may be captured. The information 105 maybe captured according to a variety of means as described above includingphotographic and data transmission capture. FIG. 3B illustrates anexample user interface screenshot that may be displayed when capturing abar code 105 of a desired hardware device 112 (e.g., set top box 150)using the device's 110 integrated camera 108. Upon successfullycapturing the information 105 and communicating the identificationinformation over the appropriate networks 115,125, a screen shot, suchas the example screen shot illustrated in FIG. 3C may be displayed. Asshown in FIG. 3C, a user may be prompted to enter a description for anassociation made between the mobile computing device 110 and theselected hardware device 112 and associated network/system 117.

Having described exemplary operating environments for embodiments of theinvention, FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams showing an illustrativemethod 400 for associating or linking a mobile computing device 110 to ahardware device 112 operating on a separate network/system 117. Themethod 400 begins at start OPERATION 405 and proceeds to OPERATION 410where a linking application 275 may be launched on a user's mobilecomputing device 110. At OPERATION 415, a user interface element may bedisplayed on the mobile computing device 110 which may be utilized toaid in scanning or requesting via transmission identificationinformation 105 of a hardware device 112 (e.g., set-top box 150).According to embodiments, identification information 105 may be capturedvia various technologies described above.

The method 400 proceeds to DECISION OPERATION 420, where a determinationmay be made as to whether the scan or data transmission from thehardware device 112 to the mobile computing device 110 was successful.Upon a successful scan or data transmission, the routing continues toOPERATION 425 where the hardware device identification information 105in the form of the bar code information or transmitted data, as well as,identification information for the mobile computing device 110 may becommunicated to the hardware device controlling network/system 117. Forexample, the identification information for both the hardware device andthe mobile computing device may be communicated to a CATV system 190 viaa CATV web services system 157. For example, a MAC ID for both a set-topbox 150 and for a mobile computing device's 110 may be communicated to aCATV system 190 via a web services system 157 to associate theparticular mobile computing device 110 with the particular set-top box150 so that the mobile computing device 110 will be able to control theset-top box 150 and access account information via the set-top box 150.

At OPERATION 430, the network/system 117, for example the CATV 190 andassociated web services system 157, may verify the information providedwith existing account information to ensure the user of the mobilecomputing device 110 may be authorized to have access and functionalcontrol over the identified hardware device and associated accountinformation, for example, a given CATV account, features, and set-topbox 150. At DECISION OPERATION 435, a determination is made as towhether the verification is successful. If the verification issuccessful, the mobile computing device is registered with the secondnetwork system in association with the hardware device associated withthe second network system for allowing control functionalitiesassociated with the hardware device and the associated second networksystem to be performed via the mobile computing device via the firstnetwork system. In addition, by registering the mobile computing devicewith the second network, the functionalities and systems, includingaccount information, may be accessed by the mobile computing device viathe associated hardware device 112.

If the verification is not successful, the method returns to startOPERATION 405, otherwise the method continues to OPERATION 440. AtOPERATION 440, the user may be prompted to enter a name or descriptionto associate with the selected hardware device 112. For example, aset-top box 150 in a home living room may be named “living room,” and asecond set-top box in a home bedroom may be named “bedroom.” AtOPERATION 445, functional control may be given to the mobile computingdevice 110. For example, a user may utilize a mobile computing device110 to access one or more set-top boxes 150 within his/her home. Variousfunctionalities may be provided to allow a user to utilize a mobilecomputing device 110 linked to a hardware device 112 (e.g., set-top box150) to check tuners within a home, to record and control set-top boxeswithin a home, view program guides associated with a services system,and view landline caller ID information. As should be appreciated,various other functionalities may be provided, including allowing theuser to access and edit, as desired, account information associated withthe hardware device 112.

At OPERATION 450, the user of the mobile computing device 110 mayassociate the mobile computing device with another hardware device 112,if desired, and the method returns to OPERATION 415, as described above.After all desired hardware devices 112 are associated with the mobilecomputing device 110, the method ends at OPERATION 455.

Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described abovewith reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations ofmethods, systems, and computer program products according to embodimentsof the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur outof the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, otherembodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the presentinvention have been described as being associated with data stored inmemory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or readfrom other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storagedevices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave fromthe Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosedmethods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reorderingstages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from theinvention. Although embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed with reference to particular standards and protocols, thepresent invention is not limited to such standards and protocols.

While the specification includes examples, the invention's scope isindicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specificationhas been described in language specific to structural features and/ormethodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or actsdescribed above. Rather, the specific features and acts described aboveare disclosed as example for embodiments of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications or variations may be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodimentsof the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the inventiondisclosed herein.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A method of linking a mobile communications deviceassociated with a wireless communications system to a cable televisionservices system via a cable television services system set-top box, themethod comprising: at the mobile communications device, capturingidentification information associated with the set-top box associatedwith the cable television services system; communicating the capturedidentification information associated with the set-top box associatedwith the cable television services system and identification informationassociated with the mobile communications device associated with thewireless communications system to the cable television services systemvia the mobile communications device; registering the mobilecommunications device with the cable television services system inassociation with the set-top box; and allowing control functionalitiesassociated with the set-top box and the associated cable televisionservices system to be performed via the mobile communications device viathe wireless communications system.
 23. The method of claim 22, whereincapturing identification information associated with the set-top boxassociated with the cable television services system includes capturingthe identification information via an image capture mechanism associatedwith the mobile communications device.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein capturing identification information associated with the set-topbox associated with the cable television services system includescapturing an image of a barcode affixed to the set-top box via a cameraassociated with the mobile communications device.
 25. The method ofclaim 22, wherein capturing identification information associated withthe set-top box associated with the cable television services systemincludes capturing the identification information via data transmissionfrom the set-top box to the mobile communications device.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein capturing the identification information via datatransmission from the set-top box to the mobile communications deviceincludes capturing the identification information via one of wirelesscommunication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) communication, and Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) communication.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein allowingcontrol functionalities associated with the set-top box and theassociated cable television services system to be performed via themobile communications device via the wireless communications systemincludes allowing utilization of the mobile communications device for:checking a status of an account associated with the cable televisionservices system; checking settings of an account associated with thecable television services system; selecting programming of an accountassociated with the cable television services system; programming theset-top box associated with the cable television services system;viewing caller identification information of a land line telephoneassociated with the cable television services system; and authenticatingaccess to the set-top box via the mobile communications device based ona location of the mobile communications device within a specified rangeof the set-top box.
 28. A system for linking a mobile computing deviceassociated with a first network system to a cable television servicessystem, the system comprising: a mobile computing device operative tocapture identification information associated with a set-top boxassociated with the cable television services system; to communicate thecaptured identification information associated with the set-top boxassociated with the cable television services system and identificationinformation associated with the mobile computing device associated withthe first network system to the cable television services system via themobile computing device; the cable television services system operativeto register the mobile computing device in association with the set-topbox; and to allow control functionalities associated with the set-topbox and the associated cable television services system to be performedvia the mobile computing device via the first network system.
 29. Thesystem of claim 28, wherein the mobile computing device is furtheroperative to capture the identification information via an image capturemechanism associated with the mobile computing device.
 30. The system ofclaim 29, wherein the mobile computing device is further operative tocapture an image of a barcode affixed to the set-top box.
 31. The systemof claim 28, wherein the mobile computing device is further operative tocapture the identification information via data transmission from theset-top box to the mobile computing device.
 32. The system of claim 28,wherein the cable television services system is further operative toallow utilization of the mobile computing device for: checking a statusof an account associated with the set-top box; checking settings of anaccount associated with the cable television services system; selectingprogramming of an account associated with the cable television servicessystem; programming the set-top box associated with the cable televisionservices system; viewing caller identification information of a landline telephone associated with the cable television services system; andauthenticating access to cable television services system via the mobilecomputing device based on a location of the mobile computing devicewithin a specified range of the cable television services system. 33.The system of claim 28, wherein the cable television services system isfurther operative to facilitate management of one or more othercomputing devices associated with the second network where associationof the one or more computing devices with the cable television servicessystem may be performed by linking the one or more other computingdevices to the cable television services system.